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The Gender and Sexuality Center will host a public screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary film, “The Invisible War,” on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Weitz Center for Creativity Cinema. This groundbreaking investigative film uncovers the prevalence of sexual assault within the U.S. military. This event is free and open to the public.

“The Invisible War” was recently nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2013 Academy Awards; it premiered last year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Audience Award. The film looks at the epidemic of rape within the military—a female U.S. soldier in a combat zone is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. The Department of Defense estimates there were a staggering 19,000 violent sex crimes in the military in 2010.

In spite of these shocking statistics, equally disturbing is the U.S. government’s efforts to prevent media coverage of these rampant crimes. “The Invisible War” exposes the epidemic, breaking open one of the most under-reported stories in our generation. The film features the stories of veterans of multiple branches of the armed services who have struggled to move forward after being assaulted, as well as interviews with members of Congress and Defense Department officials. The film also exposes the previously unreported problem of sexual harassment and assault at Marine Barracks Washington, one of the most prestigious posts of the United States Marine Corps.

“The Invisible War” argues that the military has consistently failed to address the high rate of sexual assault within its ranks and calls for changes in the way the military deals with survivors and perpetrators. Since the film’s release, sexual assault in the military has received widespread media coverage that has prompted government action to tackle the problem. A trailer of the film can be screened online at www.invisiblewarmovie.com.

Kirby Dick, who wrote and directed “The Invisible War,” is a renowned Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker who has tacked political issues in much of his work. He received his first Oscar nomination (also for Best Documentary Feature) for “Twist of Faith” (2005), the story of a man who confronted the Roman Catholic Church 20 years after being sexually abused by a priest as a teenager. Dick more recently directed “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” (2006), which explores the Motion Picture Association of America and its ratings board, and “Outrage” (2009), which discusses anti-gay politicians who the film alleges are gay themselves.

For more information about this event, including disability accommodations, contact the Carleton College Gender and Sexuality Center at (507) 222-7179. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at the corner of Third and College Streets in Northfield.